Jeanie Hannaman

By Fr. Benedict Kiely, The Catholic Thing - To begin Advent in darkness, both physical and metaphorical, seems very appropriate. It is a gloomy time of year, the nights are drawing in early, the atmosphere is cloudy and damp: gloomy is the right description. From the Old English for darkness, we know it can describe despondency and a lack of hope, a sense which approaches despair... There is much that might make us gloomy at the moment, not least the awful vote in the British House of Commons on Friday allowing the euthanizing of those deemed not worthy of life. ...

By Deacon Keith Fournier, LifeSiteNews - Advent is not a rote custom from the past. Rather, when it is embraced by Christians who are alive in Jesus Christ, it is a gift, helping us to purify ourselves and make a place for the Lord in our lives and in our homes... In a western culture where the influence of Christianity is waning, people often ask why Catholics, and some other Christians, celebrate Advent. It is helpful to know our history in order to explain what we do to those who may inquire. But even more importantly, it can help us enter more fully into the season and experience the grace it offers.